behavior: The way something, often a person or other organism, acts towards others, or conducts itself.
biology: The study of living things. The scientists who study them are known as biologists.
cross section: A term for the view of some three-dimensional solid as it would appear if a knife had cut through the structure, separated it in two, and then one of those pieces was now looked at from one of the cut sides. Or the term can be applied to looking at a “slice” of something else, such as periods of time or groups of people.
gene: (adj. genetic) A segment of DNA that codes, or holds instructions, for a cell’s production of a protein. Offspring inherit genes from their parents. Genes influence how an organism looks and behaves.
gland: A cell, a group of cells or an organ that produces and discharges a substance (or “secretion”) for use elsewhere in the body or in a body cavity, or for elimination from the body.
gut: An informal term for the gastrointestinal tract, especially the intestines.
muscle: A type of tissue used to produce movement by contracting its cells, known as muscle fibers. Muscle is rich in protein, which is why predatory species seek prey containing lots of this tissue.
novel: Something that is unusual or new, as in never seen before.
potent: An adjective for something (like a germ, poison, drug or acid) that is very strong or powerful.
predator: (adjective: predatory) A creature that preys on other animals for most or all of its food.
prey: (n.) An organism hunted by another, often for food. (v.) To attack and eat another species.
recall: To remember.
silk: A fine, strong, soft fiber spun by a range of animals, such as silkworms and many other caterpillars, weaver ants, caddis flies and spiders. Plants also can produce delicate strands called “silk” such as the long filaments of corn “silk.”
spider: A type of arthropod with four pairs of legs, and only two main body sections (a head-thorax combination plus an abdomen). Spiders often have the power to spin threads of silk that they can use to create webs or other structures.
tissue: Made of cells, it is any of the distinct types of materials that make up animals, plants or fungi. Cells within a tissue work as a unit to perform a particular function in living organisms. Different organs of the human body, for instance, often are made from many different types of tissues.
toxin: A poison produced by living organisms, such as bacteria, algae and certain plants (such as poison ivy). Bees, spiders, snakes and other animals also produce toxins. These are referred to as venoms.
venom: A poisonous secretion of an animal, such as a snake, spider or scorpion, usually transmitted by a bite or sting. A single venom may contain a mix of toxins.